Friendspiration!!!

What are friends for if not to pick us up when we’re down? To turn our frown around and remind us who we are when we sometimes forget. What are friends for if not to be our biggest cheer leaders, our counsellor and advisor, our knight in shining armor, our secret keepers? What are friends for if not to boost our self confidence, inspire us to be greater, while keeping us grounded. True friendship is something to be cherished and can last a lifetime if nurtured. Remind them how much they mean to you as often as you can. I know we all have busy lives but take the time out to show appreciation for the people who matter most to you. Relationships with friends and family is really what makes life worthwhile. They say friends are the family you chose for yourself, while family are the friends God knew you couldn’t live without. Ok…the second part isn’t true but it should be:)

I’m an introvert by nature and so I’ve always had difficulties making new friends, especially once I began High School. Prior to that it wasn’t as bad because I had a cousin who was quite my opposite and we were close. I gained my first set of friends through her. Back then, we had formed a crew of seven and called ourselves TOTA – Touch One Touch All. Hahahaha, I still get such a laugh from that. We were aged 9-11 at most, don’t ask me what we were thinking. Shout out to the TOTA crew! Good times! We’re all not as close as we use to be but I still remember those days and I have fond memories of each of the girls (women now). I often think of where I would be if I didn’t have them as friends. What if I had hung out with another set of girls? Would I be the same person I am today?

There’s this proverb my mom would share with me growing up – “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” and I’ve heard others use that same phrase as well. Growing up, I didn’t believe in it as much as I do now. Maybe because as close as I was with my friends, I didn’t think they defined me. Now I realize that they may not define me, but at the core we were very similar. Encourage your kids, nieces, nephews or any child you encounter to choose their friends wisely. As much as we may want to believe that they only listen to their parents, peers do play a vital role in a child’s development. If possible, help them choose and without being too demanding, steer them to the right kind of friends.

Be the kind of friend you would want to have in your corner. My circle has narrowed quite a bit. This year, I’ve had a seesaw of emotions that had me questioning my purpose, my religion, my career, my whole being. It’s tough when you see time passing by and you think you’re no closer to the goals you’ve set for yourself. Which reminds me; friends keep scores of your achievements. I decided to reach out to an old friend. Oh the beauty of WhatsApp video and chat all the way in Japan! It’s true that sometimes we just need someone who we know will listen without judgement, guide without dictating and support without patronizing. He took the time to remind me of who I was and why I didn’t need to be so hard on myself. He reminded me of my achievements. He spoke so much wisdom and I soaked it in. At the end of the conversation, I felt inspired!

We won’t always feel like smiling all the time, but no matter what we go through, there’s always a way to get through. You’re not a downer because your down today. Falling or failing isn’t the end, sometimes it’s the very beginning we needed.

Friends should empower us! Motivate us! Inspire us! Challenge us! Support us! That’s a lot to ask of a person, but that’s why you get to pick and chose who you want as your friend.